Arafat could be next, says general
The chief of the Israeli army suggested yesterday that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah would eventually be assassinated by Israel.
Lieutenant-General Moshe Yaalon was asked whether, after Israel's killing of Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Mr Arafat and Mr Nasrallah would be next.
"I think that their (Arafat's and Nasrallah's) responses yesterday show that they understand that it is nearing them," he said.
"In the long term, I hope that this will be a sign to all those who choose to hurt us that this will be their end."
Mr Arafat's aides said the Palestinian leader was concerned he could now be in Israel's sights.
The general's comments came as the Israeli cabinet decided that it would try to kill the entire Hamas leadership, striking whenever an opportunity presents itself, a security official said yesterday.
The killing of Sheikh Yassin triggered a wave of condemnation from Europe and the Arab world.
The official said the decision to go after the entire leadership was made secretly by the Israeli cabinet last week, in response to a double suicide bombing at Israeli port of Ashdod.
On Monday, Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz met heads of various security branches to discuss the fallout from the assassination. The security chiefs reaffirmed the cabinet decision, the official said.
Israel would not wait for the next Hamas attack, but strike whenever an opportunity presents itself, he said.
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This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/23/1079939644393.html
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